Which Moisturizer to Use Depending on Your Skin Type

Moisturizing your skin is non-negotiable if you want healthy, glowing skin. Hydrated skin is the foundation of any skincare routine and the key to a strong skin barrier that protects us from external aggressors (and helps prevent breakouts, irritation, etc.).

By the way, the idea that oily skin doesn’t need moisture is a total myth—all skin types need hydration!

Of course, we do need to tailor that hydration to our skin’s specific needs. That said, if we had to give one key piece of advice, it's to make sure your face cream contains the three fundamental ingredients we mentioned in this blog (or at least two of them): hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide.

Assuming that your moisturizer includes these ingredients to truly do its job, here are the best types of moisturizers depending on your skin type (you can discover your skin type here):

Combination to Oily Skin

This skin type tends to overproduce lipids (sebum), which creates a false sense of hydration due to the skin feeling "moist"—when in reality, it’s just oily. In fact, it’s super common for combo/oily skin to be dehydrated because in trying to remove shine, people avoid moisturizers and overuse drying or astringent products that damage the skin barrier. When your barrier is compromised, your skin loses its natural moisture more easily, which throws off balance and leads to dehydration.

So yes, friend—your skin also needs moisture (and a bit of love too, instead of just focusing on drying it out!). The key is using lightweight, fast-absorbing textures that provide hydration and treatment without feeling heavy or greasy.

Sebum-regulating ingredients like niacinamide are especially helpful here, as they reduce excess oil production. Cloud Moisturizer, with its refined formula and cloud-like texture, delivers exactly that—hydration without the shine!

Moisturizer is traditionally used in both morning and evening routines, but for oily or combo skin, there’s sometimes an exception in the mornings. Since the last step of your AM routine is sunscreen (which adds extra moisture), some oilier skins may not need another layer of hydration underneath.

In those cases, listen to your skin and adjust your routine. If a regular cream feels like too much, but sunscreen alone isn’t enough, try an even lighter format!

Our Luminous Milk Essence is the perfect lightweight moisturizer—it literally feels like milk. A fresh, effortless way to keep your skin hydrated.

Dry/Normal Skin

Dry skin is usually tight and dull, as it naturally produces fewer lipids to act as a “barrier,” making it more exposed to external factors.

What we want in this case is to bring back that emollience that dry skin lacks. The ideal moisturizer will have richer textures and include ingredients like ceramides, Centella Asiatica, or omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. These help reinforce the skin barrier and improve hydration.

A richer formula doesn’t have to feel heavy on the skin—not at all. Cica Face Cream is a perfect example of a deeply nourishing, calming moisturizer for dry skin that still feels light and comfortable.

Pro tip! If your skin is very dry, you can boost hydration at night by swapping out your evening cream for an overnight mask like Midnight Mask.

With this guide, choosing your next moisturizer should be much easier. And if you’re still unsure about which one is best for you, just write to us—we’re happy to help!

Hugs!, find me at @twopolescosmetics & @partners.incream

Anna

xx